Does shareholder voting for Directors on an annual basis serve as positive contact? (i.e. you do not need to escheat to state)
We do require a signature on our election forms which go out with our notice of shareholder meeting.

Are you saying that there are outstanding stock dividend checks? These are one time payments and positive contact normally does not come into play for these types of transactions as it is not an on-going account. They would most likely be treated like any other official check.

I would contact the state, they historically are very helpfull in determining if/when to escheat funds.